The Acute Data Alignment Programme (ADAPt) will see private healthcare data integrated into NHS systems for the first time.

London, 15 June 2021: The first providers taking part in ADAPt, a national data alignment programme between the NHS and private sector, have been confirmed today.

The pilots are being jointly led by NHS Digital and the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN), and will lead to the creation of the first comprehensive national dataset of ‘whole practice’ information for doctors and hospitals providing both NHS and private hospital care in England.

The need for this dataset was highlighted by the Independent Inquiry into rogue breast surgeon Ian Paterson, who provided unsanctioned and unnecessary treatment to patients in both NHS and private hospitals.

The providers which have volunteered as the first to take part in the ADAPt pilots are:

  • Epsomedical
  • GenesisCare UK
  • HCA Healthcare
  • London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Schoen Clinic
  • Spire Healthcare

The ADAPt pilots will test the technical changes and governance requirements needed to transfer the collection of private admitted patient data from PHIN into NHS Digital. It is envisaged that the new national dataset will be made available through NHS Digital’s data sharing services to regulators and public bodies, to assist monitoring of safety and help drive service improvement, and to PHIN to support its legal requirement to publish whole-practice performance measures for hospitals and consultants offering private healthcare services. 

“It is great to have reached the operational testing stage of this very important partnership Programme, and we're grateful to the hospitals that have volunteered to participate, particularly during the challenges of the ongoing pandemic. This is a vital step in moving towards a more joined-up approach to managing healthcare data, and will lead to significant improvements in the use of information to promote patient safety. We hope that these pilots will enable ADAPt to become fully operational in 2022.”

Matt James, Chief Executive of PHIN

“We are pleased that the first pilot sites are ready to take part in the ADAPt programme and improve patient safety through a more joined-up approach between the NHS and private sector. “This is an important step on the road to recommendations for rolling out the sharing of in-patient hospital data across the healthcare system and we look forward to analysing the first results from these pilots.””

Fran Woodard, Executive Director of Data Services at NHS Digital

“Epsomedical is delighted to participate in the ADAPt pilot and assist with the launch of the new single reporting process. We believe that patient safety and outcomes will be improved by the integration of admissions data across the sectors.”

Angela Pearce, Managing Director of Epsomedical

“We are delighted to work with PHIN on the ADAPt programme. Our involvement in the pilot schemes will, along with others in the sector, support the sector’s work to align standards, data and processes across NHS and private healthcare providers.”

Justin Hely, General Manager, GenesisCare UK

“We are proud to be involved in this important pilot. At present, divergence exists between how the NHS and independent sector providers like ourselves are measured, which can make it difficult for patients to compare the care being provided. It’s in the interest of all patients that a national dataset combining independent and public sector data is established in order to enhance quality and safety and to support decisions about care.”

John Reay, President and CEO of HCA Healthcare UK

“Trustplus Private Healthcare – part of London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust – are delighted to support the Acute Data Alignment Programme (ADAPt). We believe that moving forward this will provide greater transparency and information to all stakeholders and promote improved patient safety.”

David Osborne, from the London North West University NHS Trust

“We are absolutely thrilled to be part of such an important pilot trial. Transparent quality outcomes are a vital principle at Schoen Clinic London and we are committed to ensuring patient safety within our hospital. We look forward to working with the NHS to promote this work even further.”

Andy Davey, UK Managing Director of the Schoen Clinic

“We are very pleased to be taking part in these pilots. Aligning systems in this way is an important step to obtaining a single repository of healthcare information in the UK. This will make it easier to follow patients across their full pathway, and deliver benefits in terms of governance and assurance.”

Dr Cathy Cale, Group Medical Director at Spire Healthcare